Pope's Christmas message: 'So many tears'

VATICAN CITY, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Pope Francis said in his annual Christmas Day message that "there are so many tears this Christmas" as violence continues in the Middle East and elsewhere.

The pope, 78, told the estimated crowd of 80,000 gathered in St. Peter's Square the "brutal persecution" of religious and ethnic minorities must be brought to an end.

Francis said in his second "Urbi et Orbi," or "to the city and the world," Christmas address since becoming pope that he is concerned about the effect of ongoing violence in Iraq and Syria on the Christian minorities in those countries.

The pope called on "the Savior of the world, to look upon our brothers and sisters in Iraq and Syria.

"[For] too long now [they] have suffered the effects of ongoing conflict, and... together with those belonging to other ethnic and religious groups, are suffering a brutal persecution," he said. "May Christmas bring them hope, as indeed also to the many displaced persons, exiles and refugees, children, adults and elderly, from this region and from the whole world."

The pope also urged those affected by the the Moscow-supported separatist conflict in Ukraine to "overcome tensions and conquer hatred and violence."

The message also included an expression of gratitude toward those who treated victims of Ebola "I thank all who are courageously dedicated to assisting the sick and their family members, I once more make an urgent appeal that the necessary assistance and treatment be provided," he said.

The pope had earlier made a phone call to Christians at an Iraqi refugee camp near Irbil. The phone call, organized by Italian Catholic TV station TV2000, featured the Catholic leader telling the refugees their struggles echo the story of the Bible.

"You are like Jesus on the night of his birth when he was forced to flee," he said. "There was no room for him either, and he had to flee to Egypt later to save himself. That means we are praying even harder for you."